|
HAAA
2008 Baseball Rules and Regulations
The
following rules listed below will be additions or exceptions to the 2008
Rules and Regulations for Pony Baseball, Inc.
1.
Player Roster/Game
a.
Age is determined by April 30th
b.
No player can be added to a roster after the first play date
i.
Unless approved by the HAAA Board
c.
Younger players may play up in a division as long as they are
on
the roster.
i.
You may only be on one roster in the HAAA League
d.
A team must have a minimum of nine (9) players to start the
game or the game will be forfeited.
i.
After the game has started, you can play with a minimum
of eight (8) players.
1. You are not permitted to play with less than eight
(8) players.
ii.
A fifteen (15) minute grace period will be allowed from
the
scheduled start time, to acquire enough players.
1.
If enough players are not acquired, then a forfeit
will be granted to the other team.
e.
If no umpire shows up for a game after the fifteen (15) minute
grace period from the scheduled start, then a substitute umpire
can be
used if both coaches agree.
i.
If no umpire can be agreed upon, then the game will be
rescheduled.
f.
A player maybe called up to the next age group to participate for
a
team, if a team does not have an adequate number of players
to start the
game.
i.
A call-up play must be in the older age bracket of the lower
division to be used as a call-up player.
1.
Example: A 13-14 team needs a call-up player; the
call-up
player
must be 12 years old.
ii.
Once a call-up player, plays for a particular team, he is
not
permitted to be a call-up player for any other team.
iii.
If a call-up player is called up to play for a team and the
team
that
he is called up for has enough players to play
the game, then the
call-up player can bat only once and
play a maximum of two innings
in the field.
1.
A call-up player is not permitted to pitch.
II. Playing Field
a. The home team shall furnish benches for both teams.
The benches
shall be in a safe area and out of the field
of play.
b.
The home team is responsible for having the field lined
and any
safety problems corrected before the start of
the game.
i. The umpire has the right not to permit play, if
he/she fells it
is unsafe.
c.
Ground rules should be reviewed prior to the start of the
game.
The head coaches and umpire(s) shall be present
at ground rules.
i.
The umpire(s) have the authority to change any
ground rule that
he/she feels is unsafe or
detrimental to the game.
ii.
A book rule supersedes a ground rule.
d.
A covering, such as a tarp or canvas, is to be placed
behind the
backstop behind the home plate area.
III. Equipment
a.
Baseballs must be in accordance or equivalent to those
approved for
play by Pony, Inc.
i.
9-10 year olds 1074 or 1075
ii.
11-12 year olds 1074 or 1075
iii. 13-14 year olds 1075 or 1010
iv.
ALL Baseballs must be leather
b.
Game balls shall be provided by the home team.
One new ball and
one of good condition are
required.
c.
Bats must be in accordance with the HAAA Rules.
i.
9-10 year olds
1.
2 ¼ NO minus rule
2.
2 5/8 NO minus rule
3.
2 ¾ NOT permitted
ii.
11-12 year olds
1.
2 ¼ NO minus rule
2.
2 5/8 -11
3.
2 ¾ NOT permitted
iii.
13-14 year olds
1.
2 ¼ NO minus rule
2.
2 5/8 -8
3.
2 ¾ NOT permitted
d.
NO metal spikes are permitted in any age group.
e.
Any player serving as a catcher to warm up a
pitcher (in game or
warm-up), shall wear a
protective mask.
f.
Batting helmets must be in good condition. If a
helmet is cracked
anywhere, then the helmet is not
permitted to be used.
i.
The umpire has the right to remove the helmet
at any point.
IV.
Game Postponements
a.
Postponements other than for weather or umpire
availability are
acceptable only due to extreme
circumstances or conflicts with school
activities.
b.
In case of inclement weather, the home team’s
head coach is
responsible to notify the visiting
team’s head coach and the Commissioner
of
Umpires’ no later than an hour and fifteen
minutes prior to the start
of the game.
i.
Commissioner of Umpires’
1.
Mike Burrell
a.
Home 724-832-9558
b.
Office 724-850-2619
c.
The decision to cancel the game at the field is
that of the umpire(s).
i.
If the game is cancelled at the field after
the umpire(s)have
arrived then he/she will
receive half a game fee.
ii.
If the game is postponed prior to it being
an official game, then
the umpire(s) receives
$25.00.
d.
Lighting Rule--Once lighting is visible, then the
game will be
postponed for a minimum of twenty
minutes from the last lighting flash.
If another flash
of lighting flashes while waiting the twenty minutes,
then the twenty minutes starts from the last flash.
NO exceptions.
e.
The home coach is to make every effort to schedule
a suitable
make-up game as soon as possible.
i.
The home coach must contact the Umpire
Commissioner to schedule an
umpire.
1.
Coaches are NOT permitted to
schedule there own umpire.
a.
If this rule is violated then the
game is not
count.
f.
On game postponements, games will start from
where the game left
off. NO exceptions or restarts.
i.
Pitching Rules will still apply.
g.
If the home team fails to reschedule a game, the
visiting team can
contact their area representative
to have the HAAA Board reschedule the
game. If a
team would fail to play the game it could result in
a forfeit.
V.
General Rules
a.
Each team is limited to a Manager and three
coaches in the dugout
are during the game.
b.
One warning per player for throwing the bat after
hitting. The
batter will be declared out for each
incident thereafter.
c.
There shall be NO protests on judgment call by the
umpire(s).
d.
The team’s manager is the ONLY person to be
involved in a
discussion with the umpire(s).
e.
Balks are only called in the 13-14 year old age group.
f.
Intentional walks must be pitched out.
g.
A pitcher may not receive the ball on the rubber,
the penalty is a
ball given to the batter.
h.
Once the pitcher has returned to the rubber, a base
runner who has
not made an attempt toward
another base must immediately return to the
base
he has earned.
i.
Does NOT apply for 13-14 year old age group.
i.
NO head first slides are permitted for the 9-10 and
11-12 year old
age group, except returning back to
the base.
j.
Runners must avoid contact with other players while
running the
bases. A runner not attempting to avoid
contact (at the umpire’s
discretion) will be called out.
The base runner is NOT required to slide.
k.
For the 9-10 and 11-12 age groups, a continuous
batting order for
all dressed players is in effect (except
call-up rule). If a player is
injured and cannot continue,
his position will be skipped in the batting
order until he
is able to return. There will be NO out charged for an
injury.
i.
If a player is ejected, and his spot in the order
comes up, then an
out is assessed for his position.
l.
Free substitution for all positions is permitted except for
the
pitcher. Once a pitcher is removed from pitching,
he can NO longer pitch
in that game.
m.
In the age groups 9-10 and 11-12, ten (10) players are
permitted on
the field, the tenth player being an
outfielder. NO rover.
n.
Game durations are seven (7) innings.
o.
NO jewelry is permitted to be warn.
p.
Dropped third strike and infield fly rule will apply for
11-12 and
13-14 year old age groups.
q.
The catcher may have a pinch runner if there are two
outs. The
last batter that was out must run in his place.
This rule applies only if
the catcher is going to be
catching the next defensive inning.
r.
All games will have a 10 run mercy rule and is in effect
after the
4 ½ inning. (the home team will bat in the
bottom of the 5th if
behind).
s.
All players must play at least two (2) innings in the field
and bat
once, unless in the continuous batting order.
i.
Exception is the call-up rule.
VI.
Mustang (9 – 10)
a.
Limit of five (5) runs per inning, except the 7th
inning
(unlimited). Catch-up rule applies for any inning.
i.
Catch-Up Rule- a team that is behind at any
point in the game may
catch up and tie the
other teams score even if the team is behind
more than five
(5) run.
b.
Pitchers may pitch a maximum of three (3) innings per
game.
c.
Pitchers must be removed immediately if he hits three
(3) batters
in one inning.
d.
Pitchers can pitch no more than eight (8) innings during
one
calendar week (12:01 a.m. Monday thru Sunday midnight)
e.
If a pitcher pitches on three (3) consecutive days, a minimum of
six (6) innings, the pitcher must have 48
hours rest.
f.
Rule 9-N, Option 3 was chosen of the Pony Rule book.
i.
Additionally, a team will be limited to three (3)
steals per
inning.
ii.
Stealing only after the ball reaches the catcher.
g.
Stealing home is not permitted.
Runners can only
advance from
third on a batted ball or forced via
walk or HBP.
h.
One warning per team for a base runner leaving their
base before
the ball reaches the catcher. If the base
runner leaves early and the
ball is batted into play,
the ball is ruled dead, and the runner returns
for
their first and final warning or he is declared out if
the warning is
already been given. The pitch will be considered a strike (no matter what
the count is).
VII.
Bronco (11 – 12)
a.
Pitchers may pitch a maximum of four (4) innings per
game.
b.
Pitchers must be removed immediately if he hits three
(3) batters
in one inning.
c.
Pitchers can pitch no more than ten (10) innings during
one
calendar week (12:01 a.m. Monday thru Sunday midnight)
d.
After pitching four (4) innings in one game, the pitcher
must have
a minimum of 48 hours rest before pitching again. Pitchers that pitch
three (3) innings or less may
pitch the next day. If a pitcher pitches on
three (3) consecutive days, a minimum of six (6) innings, the
pitcher must
have 48 hours rest.
e.
Leading off is permitted, a line will be drawn three feet
from each
base, the runner must have at least one
foot toughing the line until the
ball reaches the
catcher. One team warning will be given if a runner
leaves early, the next offense will be an out.
VIII.
Pony (13 -14)
a.
No variation from Pony Rules
b.
No limits on steals or leading off.
c.
All players must plays at least two defensive innings
and bat once.
i.
You can bat an Extra Hitter (EH), but he still
must play at least
two (2) defensive innings.
d.
You may have a continues batting order, if wished.
i.
You do not have to do what the other teams
do.
e.
Pitcher can pitch no more than 12 innings in a
calendar week (12:01
a.m. Monday thru Sunday
midnight)
f.
A pitcher can pitch no more than 7 innings per game.
IX.
Conduct
a.
Arguing, mistreatment and harassment of umpires
will not be
tolerated. Problems with umpires are to
be reported to the Umpire
Commissioner.
b.
The umpires are instructed to immediately eject any
player, coach,
parent, or fan that demonstrates poor behavior. Coaches are responsible
for maintaining
order with their players and fans. Anyone ejected is to
leave the premises immediately. If the person does not leave within one
minute of his/her ejection, than a
forfeit will be rewarded to the other
team.
c.
Other grounds for ejection included runners
intentionally colliding
with fielder or the catcher,
unruly behavior, swearing or throwing
equipment
(bats, helmets, gloves, etc) and use of tobacco
products within
sight of the players.
d.
If someone (player, coach, fan) is ejected from a
game, he or she
will also be suspended for the next
game. He or she may not be in sight
of the field. If
he or she violates his rule, they can face a suspension
for the entire season.
X.
Playoffs
a.
Players must have been on the opening day roster to participate in
the playoffs.
b.
Players must have played in 50% of the games during
the season. 8
games.
c.
Call up players maybe used.
d.
A representative from each team must attend the
playoff meeting.
|
